Written Answers Tuesday 2 May 2006

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any public transport provider that indicates on its timetables whether or not there is disabled access on each service and what the Executive’s position is on the matter.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is committed to removing barriers to public transport and to improving accessibility for disabled people. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) places a duty on transport providers to avoid discrimination against disabled people in respect of matters which include timetables, booking facilities and waiting rooms.

  All rail services in Scotland are accessible by people with disabilities and First ScotRail provides a free assisted travel service for customers requiring help at stations. First ScotRail timetables advise passengers requiring assistance to book this via the Customer Contact Centre at least 24 hours in advance. Transport Scotland, working in partnership with First ScotRail, is committed to improving access to rail services and is making significant investment in station improvements throughout Scotland.

  Although bus timetables do not currently indicate which buses are accessible, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) and the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) have set up a subgroup to take this matter forward. Bus operators are committed to providing disabled access codes on timetables to indicate accessible vehicles

  Traveline Scotland (TLS), funded by Transport Scotland, provides disabled people with timetable information for journeys made within Scotland on any mode of public transport and from any point in Scotland to any main point in England or Wales. TLS provides this information to members of the public via telephone from a professional call centre and via its website.

Beef

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish beef sector could become self-sufficient and no longer rely on imported beef.

Ross Finnie: Self-sufficiency is not calculated at the Scotland level because internal trade figures are not recorded. UK figures for 2005 show that the UK was around 74% self-sufficient for beef and veal. We operate in an open economy and imports are likely to continue. Meanwhile, a significant proportion of Scottish beef is exported to other parts of the UK. From 3 May 2006, Scottish producers will also have the opportunity to re-enter wider European markets. Our aim is to continue to promote the development of the beef sector which produces a quality product of real importance to the Scottish economy.

Bridges

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why an examination of the economic, social and environmental impact and cost of retaining or removing tolls from the Tay and Forth bridges, on Fife and Dundee had not been factored into the Tolled Bridges Review Phase Two consultation process and report.

Tavish Scott: Phase One of the review examined the existing tolling structures, including the impact of tolls and the way in which potential changes to tolls could help achieve the Scottish Executive’s environmental and economic objectives of reducing pollution and congestion. Phase Two included an examination of the broader issues relating to the management, operation and maintenance of the tolled bridges, including an assessment of how the tolled bridges relate to the new regional and national transport arrangements.

  Only a small number of responses to the public consultation on Phase Two of the review raised concerns about the costs of tolls to the Scottish economy. Since the announcement of the review outcomes on 1 March 2006, a number of members and local authorities have voiced concerns about the impact of tolls on the economies of Fife and Dundee. We are committed to examining the economic, social and environmental impact and cost of retaining or removing tolls from the Tay and Forth bridges, in response to these concerns. This new work will focus on these issues, rather than the more strategic work undertaken to date.

Care of Elderly People

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which 15 local authorities operate a waiting list for free personal care.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24238 on 27 march 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  This information will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39499).

Community Planning

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to ensure that Community Planning Partnerships are able to fund employability schemes following the ending of the New Futures Fund.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21485 on 14 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Cycling

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives or legislative proposals it intends to bring forward to support or promote cycling proficiency in schools.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive will continue to fund Cycling Scotland and Road Safety Scotland to provide advice, courses and materials for cycle training in schools.

  The Scottish Cycle Training Scheme (SCTS), formally known as cycling proficiency, is administered by Road Safety Scotland, who provide free training resource materials to all Road Safety Units in Scotland. This training scheme is offered to primary 6 to 7 pupils throughout Scotland by their local Road Safety Unit. All the 22 Road Safety Units in Scotland use the SCTS as their cycle training programme for primary schools. This scheme is designed to give pupils the skills and knowledge needed to cycle safely and responsibly on the road. Curricular links have also been developed between the SCTS and Streetsense, the main road safety education resource (develop by Road Safety Scotland) for primary schools in Scotland.

  Cycling Scotland is currently piloting a multi-stage programme in four local authority areas, Highland, Falkirk, Dumfries and Galloway and East Ayrshire. These pilots involve delivery to primary 5 of cycle control skills, cycle training to primary 6 and additional cycle training and journeying in primary 7. Cycling Scotland will share the results of this pilot and lessons learned with other key agencies such as Road Safety Scotland and Sustrans – Safe Routes to School.

Dentistry

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average earnings are of NHS dentists and from what source it obtains this information.

Lewis Macdonald: Average gross NHS earnings of general dental practitioners (both full and part-time) in Scotland in the year January 2005 to December 2005 were £102,764 1 . This figure takes no account of income from patients treated privately, income from private patient plan arrangements or business costs. It only partly reflects our new allowances being introduced from October 2005. The information is obtained from MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System), the payment and information system for NHS general dental services.

  Note: 1. Average earnings of NHS general dental practitioners have been calculated as follows: total item of service earnings, plus capitation and continuing care earnings, plus earnings from grants and allowances, in the year January to December 2005, divided by the headcount of non-salaried principals active in the NHS general dental service at 31 December 2005. The following grants and allowances are available:

  Clinical Audit;

  Commitment Payment;

  Continuing Professional Development;

  Continuing Professional Development Expenses;

  Dental Practice Adviser Sessions;

  Dental Practice Adviser Travel and Subsistence;

  EDI Grant;

  Emergency Dental Service Sessions;

  General Dental Practice Allowance;

  Recruitment and Retention;

  Long-Term Sickness Payment;

  Loss of Remunerative Time - Reg. 3(2);

  Maternity Payment;

  Paternity Payment;

  Practice Improvement Grants;

  Reimbursement of Non-Domestic Rates;

  Remote Area Allowance;

  Sedation Allowance;

  Seniority Payments;

  Vocational Trainer’s Allowance, and

  Vocational Training Practice Improvement Grants.

  Source: MIDAS. Data extracted 19 April 2006.

Dentistry

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the towns and cities where a dental vocational training scheme has been operational in each year since 1999.

Mr Lewis Macdonald: Dental Vocational Training Schemes are currently run from six centres across Scotland. Under the Dental Action Plan, we will expand outreach teaching for dental and clinical professionals providing vocational training places for the increased number of dental students. The present scheme generally has ten places with training split between practice-based learning, and postgraduate centre-based learning which since 1999 has taken place in the towns as follows.

  

 Location
 2005-06
 2004-05
 2003-04
 2002-03
 2001-02
 2000-01
 1999-2000


 Dundee
 1
 1
 1
 2
 2
 1
 1


 Perth
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Aberdeen
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1


 Inverness
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Edinburgh
 4
 4
 4
 4
 4
 3
 4


 Glasgow
 5
 5
 4
 4
 4
 4
 5



  The majority of training takes place in training practices across Scotland, including for example Peterhead, Banff, Stonehaven, Fraserburgh, Aboyne and Aberdeen.

Dentistry

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists have undertaken training in dealing with special needs patients in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: No specific information is held centrally on dental training provision for patients with special needs. Treating special needs patients is a complex issue and there are some courses which currently cover aspects of this clinical area. However, following agreement by the General Dental Council to recognise special care dentistry as a dental specialty, NHS Education for Scotland intends to support dedicated specialist registrar posts once the final training programme is agreed by the General Dental Council.

Housing

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants’ organisations attended events organised by Communities Scotland or on behalf of Communities Scotland from March 2005 to February 2006.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The number of tenants’ organisations that attended events organised by Communities Scotland or on behalf of Communities Scotland from March 2005 to February 2006 is 162.

Immigration

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive the number of people from each EU state, excluding the UK, who are resident in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland.

George Lyon: The latest available information is from the 2001 Census. The following table gives a breakdown, by country of birth, of people who were born outside the UK but within the EU.

  2001 Census, People Living in Scotland and in the City of Edinburgh Local Authority Area Who Were Born in European Union1 Countries other than the UK

  

 Country of Birth
 Scotland
 City of Edinburgh


 All EU1 Countries (other than UK)
 70,214
 13,267


 Austria
 826
 158


 Belgium
 1,108
 247


 Cyprus2
 1,533
 184


 Czech Republic
 307
 73


 Denmark
 1,309
 223


 Estonia
 78
 19


 Finland
 631
 167


 France
 4,850
 1,412


 Germany
 18,703
 2,760


 Greece
 1,853
 575


 Hungary
 308
 65


 Ireland3
 21,809
 3,333


 Italy
 4,936
 1,257


 Latvia
 95
 17


 Lithuania
 133
 13


 Luxembourg
 102
 46


 Malta
 1,438
 191


 Netherlands
 3,255
 440


 Poland
 2,505
 416


 Portugal
 520
 142


 Slovakia
 123
 26


 Slovenia
 49
 6


 Spain
 2,555
 1,058


 Sweden
 1,188
 439



  Notes:

  1. Table includes all countries which are currently (April 2006) part of the European Union.

  2. Covers the whole of Cyprus, not just the area which is part of the EU.

  3. Includes "Ireland, part not specified".

Justice

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19185 by Colin Boyd QC on 28 September 2005, whether there are any further documents which were available to the inquiry into the shootings at Dunblane Primary School that can be made available to the public.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Colin Boyd QC: It has recently come to light that, due to an administrative oversight, a file of statements that was available to all parties to the Dunblane Inquiry is not currently included within the documents held at the National Archives of Scotland. Extensive enquiries have been made to determine how this happened. It appears that at some point between the transmission of the files from the Inquiry Office to the National Archives of Scotland at the end of the Inquiry, and the cataloguing of the files at the National Archives of Scotland, the file was either inadvertently not included or mislaid. The file was therefore not part of the papers which were passed to the Crown Office in 2003 when consideration was being given to making inquiry documents available to the public and was not made available to the public in October 2005.

  As soon as this error became known Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service officials took immediate steps to begin to redact the statements, which could be disclosed. Both the original file and the redacted copy were lodged at the National Archives of Scotland. The redacted copy was made available for inspection by members of the public on Thursday 20 April 2006.

  The evidence contained in these witness statements does not add substantively to the evidence in those statements already disclosed. There are also statements from medical staff, including ambulance personnel, GPs and hospital doctors. The content of these particular statements is so detailed that it could cause considerable distress to the next of kin of the bereaved and injured. These statements are therefore considered to be unsuitable for disclosure in their entirety and will be placed with the other documents in respect of which I have already explained that the Closure Order of 100 years will remain.

Land Reform

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations have been made by ministers to challenge interposed leases in the Scottish Land Court.

Rhona Brankin: We have considered and taken Senior Counsel’s opinion and will be making a referral to the Scottish Land Court on the question of the validity of an interposed lease. The referral is currently being prepared and will be put to the court as soon as possible.

Land Reform

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to challenge the legality of interposed leases in the Scottish Land Court.

Rhona Brankin: A referral to the Scottish Land Court, under section 81 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, is under preparation and will be made shortly

Land Reform

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the two references to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 1993 on page seven of Crofting Reform Etc. Bill Policy Memorandum should be to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and what implications these references have for the argument in paragraphs 37 and 38 of the policy memorandum.

Rhona Brankin: The two references the member refers to in the Policy Memorandum should indeed read "Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003" and not "Land Reform Act 1993". There are therefore no implications for the argument in paragraphs 37 and 38 of the policy memorandum and parliamentary authorities will be informed of this error so it can be rectified. I would like to thank the member for pointing out this mistake.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has made to pilot the alcohol test purchasing provisions contained in section 105 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Lewis Macdonald: The relevant provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 are to be commenced with effect from 1 June 2006 to make transitional provision for an alcohol test purchasing pilot scheme to take place in the Fife Constabulary area. The pilot is expected to begin this summer and will run for a 12 month period. The main aim is to trial alcohol test purchasing arrangements to ensure it is carried out safely, fairly and effectively in a Scottish context by the time the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 are generally commenced in 2009. The establishment of measures to ensure the welfare of the young people taking part in test purchasing exercises is of particular concern.

  The pilot will be overseen by an Advisory Group which in addition to Scottish Executive and Crown Office officials includes representatives from ACPOS, COSLA and licensed trade and retail interests. It will be subject to an independent evaluation the results of which will be used to inform the development of common operating protocols and procedures to be adopted by forces across Scotland when the test purchasing arrangements are rolled out more generally.

Life Expectancy

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how life expectancy changed (a) across Scotland and (b) in the city of Glasgow between 1996 and 2006.

George Lyon: Figures for life expectancy are normally calculated using a three year average and are only available up to and including the period 2002-04. They are produced by aggregating deaths and population data for the three year period. Three years are needed to provide large enough numbers to ensure that published figures are sufficiently robust.

  The changes in life expectancy from 1995-97 to 2002-04 for Scotland and the City of Glasgow are shown for males and females in the following table:

  

 
Males
Females


Local Authority Areas
1995-97
2002-04
Change (years)
1995-97
2002-04
Change (years)


Scotland1
72.2
73.8
+1.6
77.9
79.1
+1.2


City of Glasgow2, 3
68.2
69.3
+1.1
75.4
76.4
+1.0



  Notes:

  1. Scotland level figures published by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD).

  2. Council area figures for 1995-97 published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These are based on revisions made to population estimates after the 2001 Census.

  3. 2002-04 figures published by the General Register Office for Scotland and use ONS methodology.

Marine Environment

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any aspect of proposed ship-to-ship transfers of oil in the Firth of Forth constitutes works within a harbour area which may obstruct or endanger navigation, listed in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998 as an exception from the reservation in respect of marine transport matters.

Tavish Scott: As a general rule, works which may cause or are likely to result in an obstruction or danger to navigation, require to be assessed under the terms of Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949, which is devolved. However, decisions in relation to the regulation of ship-to-ship transfers are a matter reserved to the UK Government. It would then fall to the port authority to regulate any specific oil transfer operations in its area.

Marine Environment

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any aspect of the proposed ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth constitutes surface storage of fossil fuels.

Rhona Brankin: No.

Prison Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24241 by Cathy Jamieson on 27 March 2006, what its reasons are for passing a policy question directed to a minister to an official for response and when the Minister for Justice will provide a direct substantive answer.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) framework document clearly sets out that the Chief Executive has delegated authority to make decisions about the management of individual offenders, including their location, movement, discipline, care and welfare, and interventions and activities to further the rehabilitation of offenders in prison. The matter referred to in the question is clearly an operational matter for the SPS.

Prison Service

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the Prison Outreach Project comes into operation as soon as possible.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Prison Outreach Project has been operational since April 2000 and currently provides services at HM Prison Edinburgh, HM Prison and YOI (Young Offenders’ Institute) Cornton Vale and YOI Polmont.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland to include the new regional transport partnerships.

Tavish Scott: We have no plans to do so as only the first round of appointments, made in April 2006, is made by Scottish ministers. From May 2007 appointments will be made by the regional transport partnerships themselves subject only to the consent of Scottish ministers. The current appointments were made in accordance with detailed guidance drawn up by the Executive in order to facilitate the process and ensure equity of treatment for all candidates. This guidance was based on the fundamental principle of securing appointments on merit after an open and transparent process and is available on the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/06145237/0 .

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made regarding light rail and the ability of light rail vehicles to travel on heavy gauge rail.

Tavish Scott: No representations have been made by the Scottish Executive regarding the ability of light rail vehicles to travel on heavy gauge rail.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rationale was for transferring the rail powers previously exercised by Strathclyde Passenger Transport, including for the specification of routes, timetables, fares and quality standards, to Transport Scotland and what the benefits of this transfer will be.

Tavish Scott: The devolution of rail powers changed the organisation and structure of rail in Scotland and placed Scottish ministers in a central role. The transfer of powers from Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) to Scottish ministers ensures that the lines of accountability are clear and transparent and brings greater co-ordination and efficiency in the implementation of rail strategy. Transport Scotland recognises the importance of rail in an effective integrated transport system and will work with industry partners to deliver improvements in rail services throughout Scotland.

Rail Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether rail services and fares within the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area are funded differently from those in the rest of the First ScotRail network and, if so, what the differences are.

Tavish Scott: Rail services are funded uniformly under the ScotRail franchise agreement across the whole of Scotland, including the former Strathclyde Passenger Transport area.

Road Accidents

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents were (a) recorded and (b) reported to the Procurator Fiscal by each police force in each month since May 2001 and how many such accidents were recorded as being caused by adverse or winter weather conditions.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage-only accidents.

  Accidents for which adverse or winter weather conditions were reported as an attributable factor are not identified as such in the STATS 19 returns. The returns do, however, include information about the weather and the road surface condition at the time of the accident.

  The following table 1 lists the number of injury road accidents by month and police force from May 2001 to September 2005, the latest month for which information can be provided at present. The figures for the first nine months of 2005 are provisional. Provisional figures for 2005 as a whole will be published in June.

  The following table 2 lists the number of these injury road accidents which occurred in what might be regarded as adverse or winter weather conditions. The following types of accidents were counted for the purpose of producing the figures in this table - those for which either (a) the weather was recorded as one of the following: snowing; fine with high winds; raining with high winds; fog or mist (if hazard); or other adverse weather conditions, or (b) the road surface condition was recorded as one of the following: snow; frost/ice, or flood (surface water over 3cm deep).

  Information on road accidents which lead to a report to procurators fiscal is not held centrally.

  Table 1 Injury Road Accidents by Month and Police Force: May 2001 to September 2005

  

 
 
 Northern
 Grampian
 Tayside
 Fife
 Lothian and borders
 Central
 Strathclyde
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Scotland


 2001
 May
 72
 82
 104
 57
 258
 49
 566
 42
 1,230


 
 June
 69
 81
 100
 63
 310
 64
 537
 28
 1,252


 
 July
 87
 98
 98
 68
 225
 67
 502
 38
 1,183


 
 August
 78
 102
 111
 75
 298
 54
 583
 59
 1,360


 
 September
 74
 93
 101
 50
 279
 57
 518
 28
 1,200


 
 October
 63
 108
 108
 63
 268
 62
 587
 38
 1,297


 
 November
 64
 105
 115
 86
 317
 53
 577
 34
 1,351


 
 December
 68
 110
 91
 62
 278
 54
 575
 44
 1,282


 2002
 January
 60
 83
 99
 64
 215
 73
 547
 21
 1,162


 
 February
 57
 97
 81
 65
 223
 51
 516
 40
 1,130


 
 March
 41
 69
 84
 70
 263
 57
 520
 25
 1,129


 
 April
 32
 75
 79
 49
 235
 62
 472
 36
 1,040


 
 May
 66
 91
 95
 54
 254
 46
 524
 42
 1,172


 
 June
 63
 100
 103
 52
 251
 62
 493
 32
 1,156


 
 July
 71
 108
 112
 69
 238
 49
 506
 41
 1,194


 
 August
 92
 100
 108
 69
 327
 81
 563
 47
 1,387


 
 September
 71
 108
 116
 60
 239
 50
 483
 34
 1,161


 
 October
 70
 86
 115
 64
 283
 75
 575
 38
 1,306


 
 November
 64
 111
 87
 62
 273
 79
 572
 33
 1,281


 
 December
 57
 129
 89
 62
 250
 57
 540
 36
 1,220


 2003
 January
 64
 86
 95
 60
 210
 65
 525
 28
 1,133


 
 February
 46
 73
 95
 63
 261
 49
 466
 40
 1,093


 
 March
 39
 88
 78
 56
 208
 47
 439
 37
 992


 
 April
 55
 68
 76
 58
 207
 71
 527
 35
 1,097


 
 May
 71
 68
 89
 49
 248
 52
 514
 40
 1,131


 
 June
 80
 102
 91
 52
 228
 56
 475
 41
 1,125


 
 July
 84
 86
 87
 78
 239
 69
 491
 41
 1,175


 
 August
 99
 113
 90
 61
 221
 65
 554
 31
 1,234


 
 September
 79
 102
 96
 61
 240
 74
 517
 40
 1,209


 
 October
 52
 99
 70
 64
 291
 58
 546
 44
 1,224


 
 November
 62
 116
 91
 67
 222
 69
 564
 32
 1,223


 
 December
 69
 100
 89
 50
 255
 77
 594
 38
 1,272


 2004
 January
 60
 92
 74
 52
 238
 57
 485
 37
 1,095


 
 February
 42
 77
 68
 68
 229
 39
 424
 27
 974


 
 March
 56
 72
 89
 69
 213
 54
 498
 40
 1,091


 
 April
 67
 78
 89
 47
 245
 43
 505
 29
 1,103


 
 May
 68
 95
 76
 55
 236
 67
 524
 37
 1,158


 
 June
 73
 92
 108
 57
 254
 62
 569
 33
 1,248


 
 July
 74
 66
 73
 46
 210
 52
 430
 43
 994


 
 August
 86
 125
 107
 76
 264
 59
 571
 56
 1,344


 
 September
 80
 99
 118
 62
 241
 65
 498
 22
 1,185


 
 October
 63
 104
 78
 64
 262
 54
 556
 42
 1,223


 
 November
 56
 104
 89
 82
 261
 48
 515
 30
 1,185


 
 December
 74
 95
 103
 76
 263
 59
 564
 44
 1,278


2005 (prov)
 January
 57
 84
 76
 55
 220
 53
 511
 44
 1,100


 February
 57
 103
 66
 56
 194
 41
 462
 34
 1,013


 
 March
 51
 86
 63
 55
 194
 43
 495
 38
 1,025


 
 April
 58
 85
 69
 47
 194
 49
 458
 35
 995


 
 May
 72
 93
 78
 71
 223
 55
 488
 40
 1,120


 
 June
 75
 98
 64
 59
 255
 52
 462
 46
 1,111


 
 July
 70
 103
 82
 52
 222
 55
 441
 45
 1,070


 
 August
 87
 112
 113
 52
 240
 50
 506
 33
 1,193


 
 September
 56
 94
 92
 61
 225
 56
 507
 39
 1,130



  Table 2 Injury Road Accidents which Occurred in what Might be Regarded as Adverse or Winter Weather Conditions by Month and Police Force: May 2001 to September 2005

  

 
 
 Northern
 Grampian
 Tayside
 Fife
 Lothian and borders
 Central
 Strathclyde
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Scotland


 2001
 May
 4
 1
 2
 0
 11
 0
 9
 0
 27


 
 June
 1
 2
 3
 3
 11
 2
 18
 0
 40


 
 July
 6
 5
 1
 2
 9
 2
 14
 2
 41


 
 August
 3
 3
 0
 1
 2
 1
 13
 0
 23


 
 September
 7
 6
 0
 2
 6
 1
 20
 2
 44


 
 October
 11
 11
 9
 1
 21
 10
 77
 4
 144


 
 November
 16
 15
 15
 14
 32
 3
 57
 0
 152


 
 December
 27
 41
 21
 12
 45
 12
 129
 11
 298


 2002
 January
 21
 24
 37
 12
 50
 26
 118
 10
 298


 
 February
 24
 18
 11
 10
 40
 9
 134
 13
 259


 
 March
 8
 5
 6
 8
 28
 4
 86
 2
 147


 
 April
 4
 4
 3
 1
 8
 3
 21
 1
 45


 
 May
 8
 4
 3
 1
 9
 1
 34
 6
 66


 
 June
 6
 3
 4
 2
 4
 0
 19
 2
 40


 
 July
 3
 1
 4
 2
 7
 4
 6
 1
 28


 
 August
 4
 6
 2
 0
 10
 2
 15
 0
 39


 
 September
 3
 1
 1
 0
 3
 1
 5
 0
 14


 
 October
 6
 11
 13
 10
 17
 5
 62
 8
 132


 
 November
 12
 22
 6
 4
 18
 7
 32
 2
 103


 
 December
 10
 13
 6
 7
 41
 9
 43
 3
 132


 2003
 January
 37
 27
 18
 17
 64
 14
 144
 6
 327


 
 February
 16
 16
 25
 14
 37
 16
 60
 9
 193


 
 March
 2
 3
 4
 4
 23
 5
 24
 2
 67


 
 April
 2
 5
 0
 0
 6
 3
 23
 1
 40


 
 May
 5
 1
 6
 1
 7
 2
 41
 1
 64


 
 June
 3
 1
 0
 1
 8
 1
 9
 1
 24


 
 July
 3
 1
 0
 1
 7
 2
 10
 0
 24


 
 August
 7
 3
 0
 0
 5
 0
 8
 0
 23


 
 September
 3
 3
 0
 1
 2
 4
 11
 0
 24


 
 October
 11
 16
 1
 5
 29
 5
 40
 6
 113


 
 November
 19
 20
 11
 11
 16
 8
 72
 5
 162


 
 December
 32
 35
 21
 3
 45
 15
 107
 6
 264


 2004
 January
 32
 26
 30
 12
 47
 17
 92
 13
 269


 
 February
 17
 23
 9
 9
 31
 5
 50
 6
 150


 
 March
 9
 6
 5
 8
 17
 10
 49
 5
 109


 
 April
 4
 4
 2
 1
 11
 1
 22
 0
 45


 
 May
 1
 1
 0
 0
 3
 3
 9
 1
 18


 
 June
 5
 0
 0
 6
 11
 2
 18
 2
 44


 
 July
 0
 0
 1
 1
 3
 3
 8
 1
 17


 
 August
 7
 15
 7
 5
 15
 5
 30
 3
 87


 
 September
 12
 9
 4
 3
 36
 7
 74
 2
 147


 
 October
 9
 5
 4
 8
 18
 8
 48
 3
 103


 
 November
 7
 17
 8
 7
 28
 4
 49
 4
 124


 
 December
 35
 26
 18
 15
 53
 19
 160
 18
 344


2005 (prov)
 January
 24
 25
 18
 14
 66
 11
 180
 16
 354


 
 February
 18
 29
 11
 8
 27
 7
 67
 4
 171


 
 March
 12
 16
 5
 1
 22
 6
 34
 2
 98


 
 April
 9
 19
 2
 3
 11
 2
 19
 2
 67


 
 May
 5
 2
 0
 2
 4
 0
 16
 2
 31


 
 June
 4
 2
 0
 0
 3
 2
 6
 0
 17


 
 July
 2
 4
 0
 0
 4
 1
 4
 1
 16


 
 August
 4
 0
 2
 0
 8
 2
 26
 2
 44


 
 September
 9
 4
 1
 3
 15
 2
 45
 5
 84

Roads

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the delivery of the Gourock interchange; when the work will commence, and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.

Tavish Scott: I am meeting shortly with Inverclyde Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the developer and Scottish Enterprise to discuss progress on Gourock Interchange. I would hope to be able to make a statement on next steps following that meeting.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will run a Paramics traffic model on the Aberdeen Sub Area Model, simulating the twin trumpet design, north or south of Charleston, for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) and what the reasons are for the Executive’s position on this matter.

Tavish Scott: No. We are satisfied that Charleston is the optimum location for a junction with the A90, the AWPR and the A956 Wellington Road.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18253 by Tavish Scott on 18 August 2005 and whilst the Auchenkilns junction was opened to traffic by Christmas 2005, whether the contract was completed at this time or at a date subsequent to the junction opening to traffic.

Tavish Scott: The works were substantially complete at that time but, as is customary, some ancillary works continued after that date. The contract is not due to end until 21 December 2010 when the five year maintenance period ends.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether liquidated damages were sought from the contractor for the late completion of the contract to complete the grade separated junction to replace the Auchenkilns roundabout on the A80 and, if so, what the total amount was of these damages.

Tavish Scott: The engineer for the works has determined that liquidated damages will apply. The amount of these damages is being considered carefully at present.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps would normally be taken to ascertain that best value was achieved in relation to the contract to realign the Back O’Hill Road, given that Stirling Council appear to have been client, designer and contractor.

Tavish Scott: The Back O’Hill Road is a local road and therefore the contract to realign this route is the statutory responsibility of Stirling Council. The Scottish Executive has put in place best value arrangements which require continuous improvement in the discharge of local authority functions. These arrangements are subject to a rolling programme of monitoring by Audit Scotland.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional costs it will be liable for in respect of remedial worked required on the Back O’Hill Road, Stirling, and how these will be funded.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive will not be liable for any additional costs in respect of remedial works required on the Back O’Hill Road. This is a local road and therefore the statutory responsibility of Stirling Council, as the local roads authority.

Scottish Criminal Records Office

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23441 by Colin Boyd QC on 3 April 2006, whether it will confirm that there was no official or unofficial contact with FBI officials about the issues being inquired into in the Shirley McKie case and whether it will confirm that there was no concern expressed at any level that repercussions from her case could have a negative effect on the international reputation of the Scottish justice system.

Colin Boyd QC: I am not aware of any contact, either official or unofficial, having taken place with FBI officials about the Shirley McKie case.

Scottish Criminal Records Office

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23973 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 April 2006 and in light of a report that appeared in The Sunday Times on 5 March 2006 in which the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) stated that "it was common for experts to sign on behalf of colleagues", whether it considers that this was a breach of practice in relation to the identification of fingerprints at the SCRO and, as such, should be investigated further to ascertain whether the crime of forgery had been committed.

Colin Boyd QC: I do not consider that the information referred to provides a basis upon which to instigate a criminal investigation.

Scottish Water

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how new local strategic water and drainage infrastructure, such as major trunk sewers and trunk water mains, will be planned, funded and procured in circumstances where developer contributions to Scottish Water are required from a wide range of companies developing in areas to be serviced by such infrastructure, or from companies developing sites over a protracted time period, and in other circumstances where such contributions are unlikely to be achievable in whole in advance of the requirement to fund the infrastructure.

Rhona Brankin: The detailed planning, funding and procurement of new local strategic water and drainage infrastructure are operational matters for Scottish Water.

  Where investment in such infrastructure is included in Scottish Water’s investment programme, either through capital maintenance or the environmental programme, these costs would be borne by Scottish Water rather than developers. Where significant new local infrastructure is required as a result of development it will be for developers, planning authorities and Scottish Water to work together to deliver solutions and co-ordinated action is already taking place in many areas. Where such development is planned over a long period of time, it is often sensible for infrastructure to be provided on a similar timescale.

  Scottish Water will also be able to use the funds raised from infrastructure charges to help address demands on capacity that cannot be attributed to particular developments.

Smoking

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with the appropriate management and trade union representatives anent the implementation of no smoking rules on maritime vessels that are owned, or leased, by the Executive and whether these rules are applicable when such vessels are operating outwith Scottish waters.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with management representatives of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) and the representatives of crew members of SFPA vessels anent the implementation of no smoking rules on such vessels (a) whilst operating in Scottish waters and (b) when in Scottish ports.

Ross Finnie: Within the Scottish Executive, maritime vessels are owned by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) and Fisheries Research Services (FRS).

  SFPA introduced a smoking policy for all its staff on 16 March 2006, prior to which the issue of smoking arrangements had been discussed at various meetings involving representatives of management and staff. The policy itself was the subject of full consultation with all relevant trades union. As far as the agency’s marine staff are concerned, the policy designates the areas on board each class of agency vessel where smoking is permitted and it applies regardless of whether the vessels are within or outwith Scottish waters or are in port.

  Within FRS discussions are on-going to formalise a revised smoking policy for vessels. Current no smoking rules allow smoking only in a restricted number of designated areas on board vessels and apply whether the vessels are within or outwith Scottish waters, or are in port.

Transport

Mr Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of how the £145,000 allocated to Glasgow City Council for community transport under the Urban Community Transport initiative will be spent; whether the original pilot projects in Glasgow will be funded, and what the reasons are for the Executive’s position on this matter.

Tavish Scott: Glasgow City Council was awarded £145,000 per year between 2003-04 and 2005-06 towards a pilot community transport project in Glasgow. The project involved purchasing four minibuses in order to deliver new community transport services in four Social Inclusion Partnership areas: Castlemilk, Drumchapel, Greater Easterhouse and Greater Pollok. The project established patient transport and visitor services to local hospitals and made it easier for people to attend health appointments. Two of the four minibuses also supported the delivery of physical activity programmes for young people in Drumchapel and Greater Easterhouse.

  The council has been awarded a further £145,000 in 2006-07. The council is currently reviewing the former services and will decide shortly which services it wishes to continue in the new financial year. The council is aware that additional funding will be awarded also in 2007-08, although the precise amount has yet to be decided.

Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community bus permits, as specified in section 22 of the Transport Act 1985, were issued in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community transport permits were issued under section 19 of the Transport Act 1985 in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Tavish Scott: This information is not held centrally.

Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-5408 by Nicol Stephen on 10 February 2005, what number of community transport projects it will support in (a) 2005-06 and (b) subsequent financial years and how much funding it has allocated for such projects.

Tavish Scott: The Executive supported 106 community transport projects in 2005-2006 under the Rural Community Transport Initiative, Urban Community Transport Initiative and Rural Demand Responsive Transport Initiative. To date, the Executive has awarded grant to 86 community transport projects in 2006-07, 58 in 2007-08 and 34 in 2008-09 under these schemes. These numbers will increase as further rounds of the Rural Community Transport Initiative will be held in each of these years.

Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what predictions it has made about the impact on climate change of the policy options set out in its new consultation on Scotland’s national transport strategy (NTS) and when such predictions will be published.

Tavish Scott: An appraisal of potential new transport policies to inform the final National Transport Strategy for Scotland is currently being carried out and will include an estimate of the impact of particular policies on the environment. We are also undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the NTS Consultation Paper.

Veterinary Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many veterinary investigation laboratories have been in service for use by the Scottish Veterinary Service in Scotland in each year from 1996 to 2006 and how many there have been in England and Wales.

Ross Finnie: There are eight veterinary investigation laboratories in Scotland. These are run by the Scottish Agricultural College with financial assistance from the Scottish Executive. The number of laboratories has been constant for more than 20 years.

  The veterinary investigation laboratories in England and Wales are provided by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, which is an agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). I understand that there are 14 of these laboratories and that the number has been constant since 1996.

Wildlife

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-24273 and S2W-24279 by Ross Finnie on 30 March 2006, what it considers to be a reasonable and appropriate timescale to work to in considering the implications of the Waddenzee judgement and what it considers would be appropriate implementation of the precautionary principle in the interim.

Ross Finnie: As the sites to which your question apply are now the subject of formal exchanges between the Scottish Executive and the European Commission, I am unable to comment further at this stage.